CBR Review: Loki #4

I recently reviewed Loki #4 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "The mini-series focusing on the trickster god concludes with an issue that tells you everything you ever need to know about Loki, boiling him down to his essence and tying up the plot that began in the first issue. Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa shows that he gets Loki and weaves that insight through various Norse myths, but never quite makes Loki the hero of the story. He’s the protagonist, yet he never comes across as someone we would want to get behind. He doesn’t even rise to the level of anti-hero. That, coupled with the art assistance from Al Barrionuevo, who does a somewhat inconsistent job, holds this issue back from being great."

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Sketch Reviews (February 23 2011)

A big week for me with a lot of new comics, so let's get to it.

Avengers #10: Some rougher art for a lot of this issue. Much thicker lines. Deadlines are a bitch, I imagine. I'm enjoying this arc and liked Stark's little speech to Steve Rogers. But, this isn't clicking the way I'd like yet. It feels too all over the place, too slowly paced. After the balls out craziness of the first arc, this one isn't as exciting. As well, the Spider-Man/Protector scene seemed so forced. Just stunk of effort. [**1/2] (Also, this issue contained Heroes for Hire #1 and I couldn't make my way through it. I just don't care.)

Detective Comics #874: Isn't it nice when half of a new comic is really the back-up strip you should have got last month? (Last time I harp on that, I swear...) The James Jr. stuff was the most intriguing part of the first issue of Scott Snyder's run for me and I'm glad to get some about it. The dialogue between the father and son was great -- and we've got Francesco Francavilla on art! It was a nice surprise to see him also getting the chance to draw Batman and Red Robin in action. That second story felt a little tacked on (maybe it was planned as the back-up for the next regular issue, though...), but was pleasant enough. A solid issue that has me intrigued about the future of the book. [***1/2]

Gødland #34: Only three more issues left... I loved Nickelhead's scene with the Tormentor. Scioli seemed to be working the pages more than usual, too. Trying different things. A really strong issue. [****]

Loki #3: I'm surprised at how much I'm digging on this series. I expected to get the first issue to review and then not care about what happened next. Aguirre-Sacasa's writing is a little overwrought at times, but the art of Fiumara, Lacombe, and Villarrubia is superb. Absolutely gorgeous. It was cool to see such a large amount of time devoted to the reaction to the death of Balder. For all of the times that guy dies, I'm not sure he's gotten as good a send-off as he receives here. Really looking forward to the final issue. [***3/4]

New Mutants #22: I'll be discussing this and X-Men Legacy #245 with Kelly in the second Age of X Dialogues. I enjoyed the two issues, the first one more. This one seemed a little more mechanical... though it did hint at some things that are intriguing about the larger Age of X world. These two issues have convinced me that starting with Age of X Alpha #1 like they did was definitely the wrong way to go. [***1/4]

Scalped #46: More than any other issue, RM Guéra just knocked me on my ass. His best work yet. And Jason was good, too. [****1/4]

Secret Avengers #10: A decent issue. You could see Will Conrad in the art more than ever, especially in some of the faces. I want to like this comic more than I do. It's a fine action superhero book... just not a lot there. [**3/4]

Thor #620: This comic reminded me of The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask with the giants. They look the same. I like the idea and can see why Fraction would go there, but those designs just kill it. Who wants to see those generic creatures fighting when it could be Thor and the rest of the Aesir? Baffling choice. [***]

Who is Jake Ellis? #2: A good issue. Still intriguing with really cool art. I get the feeling, though, that this is one of those comics that I'll like, read once as a whole, and never look at again. Just a feeling. Why must my mind go to the negative like that? I enjoyed this issue! Lots of intrigue! I'm intrigued! [***1/2]

Later

CBR Review: Loki #2

I recently reviewed Loki #2 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "How many times have we seen Loki kill Balder, either directly or through someone else? There’s an interesting tie-in to the mythological roots of Thor and the Aesir when Marvel tells and retells the same stories from different perspectives, in different ways, but it’s also tedious. Loki brings about Ragnarök by killing Balder. That’s the way it happens and, in the past few years, it seems to have happened a lot. In fact, at least two current mini-series for Marvel have plots rooted in that act, including, unsurprisingly, Loki, where, in the second issue, he kills Balder. Why? Because he’s Loki and that’s what Loki does."

You can read the rest HERE!

CBR Review: Loki #1

I recently reviewed Loki #1 for CBR and, in the process, wrote the following sentences: "The plethora of Thor books adds one where the Thunder God is a supporting character with the focus firmly on his adopted brother, Loki. One of the most interesting Asgardians, at times, Loki has even proved more complex and engrossing a character than Thor. The trickster god is a mess of contradictions, sometimes wanting to do good, sometimes wanting to do bad, often simply compelled to do the wrong thing, unable to be anything other than himself. In the debut issue of this four-issue mini-series focusing on the god of lies, Loki lives up to his name, painting himself the victim, while Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa plays with the idea of myths as malleable stories that shift and change over time with only some success."

You can read the rest HERE!